Find Child Care In Maryland | Programs & Financial Help
Finding reliable, affordable child care can be challenging. Families need safe, welcoming environments for their children, schedules that work, and care they can afford.
Whether you're looking for infant care, preschool, after-school programs, or help covering child care costs, Maryland has resources to support your family.
Get started by finding child care near you. Enter your ZIP code to narrow results.
Find Child Care Near You
Looking for child care close to home or work?
Maryland Family Network's LOCATE: Child Care program is a free, confidential service that helps families find child care providers throughout Maryland.
LOCATE can help you explore:
- Licensed child care centers and registered family child care homes
- Infant and toddler care
- Preschools and nursery schools
- Head Start
- Special needs services
- Private Kindergarten
- Before- and after-school programs
Search for providers based on your location, schedule, cost, and your child's needs.
Call LOCATE Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Families can also search their database of child care providers.
Child Care for Children With Special Needs
Every child deserves a place where they feel welcome, supported, and included.
Maryland Family Network's LOCATE: Child Care program provides specialized referral assistance to families searching for child care for children with disabilities or special needs.
Specialists can help families identify programs, discuss needed accommodations, and explore care options that meet their child's individual needs.
Call LOCATE Special Needs Services:
Help Paying for child care
Child care is a significant expense for many families, but financial assistance may be available.
Maryland Child Care Scholarship Program
The Maryland Child Care Scholarship (CCS) Program helps eligible families pay for child care and early education programs. You may also know it as the Child Care Subsidy, Purchase of Care Voucher, or Subsidy Voucher.
CCS provides a yearly voucher. The program may cover part of your child care costs, depending on your eligibility and the provider you select. Families may be responsible for a co-payment or additional fees.
Scholarships are available to eligible families with:
- Children younger than 13
- Individuals ages 13 through 19 with a qualifying disability
View an eligibility checklist and answer a series of yes-or-no questions to see whether you qualify for the scholarship. It is an income-eligible program.
The Maryland State Department of Education administers the program. Submit applications through the Child Care Scholarship Family Portal.
Important Update: Child Care Scholarship Waitlist
Maryland's Child Care Scholarship Program is currently under a partial enrollment freeze because of high demand and limited funding.
Families can still apply. Eligible families may be placed on a waitlist. The state is awarding a limited number of scholarships as spaces become available.
Certain eligible families are exempt from the waitlist, including families experiencing homelessness and those meeting specific public assistance criteria (recipients of TANF, TCA, and SSI).
Families currently receiving scholarships may continue receiving assistance as long as they meet program requirements.
Other Programs that pay for child care
Some Maryland counties offer additional financial assistance to eligible families.
Montgomery County Working Parents Assistance Program
Montgomery County's Working Parents Assistance (WPA) Program provides child care subsidies to eligible county residents who work, attend school, or participate in qualifying training programs.
The program may support families who do not qualify for the state Child Care Scholarship Program or who are waiting for assistance.
Eligibility depends on household income, family size, and other program requirements.
Learn About Working Parents Assistance
Search Child Care Resources
Families throughout Maryland can also search the 211 Community Resource Database for additional local programs that may help with child care expenses.
Early Childhood Education in Maryland
Early learning experiences help children build the social, emotional, and academic skills they need for kindergarten and beyond. Maryland offers several programs that support young children and their families, including Head Start, Early Head Start, and Pre-K.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start and Early Head Start provide free early childhood education, developmental support, nutrition services, and family support to eligible families.
- Early Head Start serves infants and toddlers under age 3. Some programs also support pregnant individuals.
- Head Start serves preschool-age children, typically ages 3 to 5, helping them develop the skills needed for kindergarten.
Pre-K
Maryland's Pre-K programs help 3- and 4-year-old children develop early learning skills, build relationships, and prepare for kindergarten.
Public schools, child care centers, family child care providers, and Head Start programs offer these programs. Eligible families can receive free Pre-K. Maryland's Pre-K Cost Calculator makes it easy to determine how much Pre-K may cost, if anything.
Choosing the Right Child Care Provider
Finding available care is one part of the process. Finding a program that feels right for your child is just as important.
As you explore options, consider asking:
- Is the provider licensed or registered?
- Are there openings for my child's age?
- What are the hours and total costs?
- Does the program accept Child Care Scholarships?
- How does the provider support children's learning, development, and individual needs?
- What safety procedures are in place?
Maryland Family Network offers resources to help families compare programs and make informed decisions.
Learn More About Choosing Child Care
Find More Resources for Your Family
Child care is just one of the needs families balance every day.
211 Maryland connects parents, grandparents, and caregivers to resources for food, housing, financial assistance, child development, parenting support, and more.
Search our statewide Community Resource Database by ZIP code to find available programs in your community.
You can also dial 211 to connect with a resource specialist or explore more children & family resources.
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Before- and After-School Child Care
Child care needs don't end when children enter school.
Families may need supervision before school starts, after classes end, during school breaks, or over the summer.
Search the 211 Statewide Community Resource Database for local options:
Availability, age requirements, costs, and schedules vary by program.
Support for Child Development
Families with concerns about a child's development can also access developmental screenings, free evaluations, and early intervention services through Maryland's Infants and Toddlers Program and Child Find.
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explore assistance programs
Learn about benefit programs and how to connect with support.
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Electric, gas, and water bill assistance programs
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Rental payments, eviction prevention, homeless shelters
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